India 'to stop' work on barrage

India 'to stop' work on barrage

Our Correspondent, Lalmonirhat

Indian Border Security Force (BSF) has told the BGB that India will stop the construction of a barrage on the Gidari river, just 400 metres upstream from the no-mans' land at Kutibari border in the district's Aditmari upazila.
The BSF came up with the decision at a battalion-level flag meeting between the two forces in Dinhata Police Station of India's Cooch Behar district, opposite to Kutibari border, yesterday.
Lt Col Shafiul Alam Khan, commanding officer of Lalmonirhat 15 BGB Battalion, led the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) team and Baby Joseph, commandant of 124 Cooch Behar BSF Battalion, led the BSF team.
Joseph said, “India refrains from building the barrage on the river in Daribash village of Dinhata Police Station until the Indo-Bangla Joint Rivers Commission (JRC) makes any decision in this regard.”
The BSF would take all necessary steps to stop constructing the barrage, the BSF commandant said, adding that he would convey the flag meeting's decision to the authorities concerned of the JRC, India.
Shafiul said, “I will communicate the meeting's decision to the authorities concerned of the JRC immediately, and it will make the final decision about the barrage on the river.”

The 600 metres long and 25 metres wide structure has been under construction for the last two months and earth filling work there has been completed. Once built, the barrage would seriously affect water flow in Bangladesh.